Near field communication (NFC) device and method for selectively securing records in a near field communication data exchange format (NDEF) message

Abstract

Methods for selectively securing records in a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message. A method includes placing a place marker signature record in the NDEF message. The place marker signature record is a modified signature Record Type Definition (RTD). A first set of records preceding the place marker signature record in the NDEF message is unsecured. The method also includes securing a second set of records following the place marker signature record. Another method includes placing a secured bytes field in the signature RTD. The secured byte field indicates a number of bytes of data to be secured preceding this field. The method also includes securing data in records preceding this field in the signature RTD, based on a value of the secured bytes field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for selectively securing records in a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message in a Near Field Communication (NFC) device, the method comprising:
 placing a first place marker signature record as a signature Record Type Definition (RTD) in the NDEF message, wherein the first place marker signature record indicates a first set of at least one record preceding the first place marker signature record in the NDEF message as unsecured, a second set of at least one record following the first place marker signature record until a first signature RTD using a valid signature of the first signature RTD in the NDEF message as secured; and 
 placing a second place marker signature record in the NDEF message, wherein the second place marker signature record indicates a third set of at least one record preceding the second place marker signature record from the first signature RTD in the NDEF message as unsecured, and a fourth set of at least one record following the second place marker signature record until a second signature RTD using a valid signature of the second signature RTD in the NDEF message as secured, 
 wherein each of the first place marker signature record and the second place marker signature record is defined by a combination of setting, within the place marker signature record, a URI_present field to ‘0’ and a signature_type field to ‘0’. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of at least one record preceding the first place marker signature record from a beginning of the NDEF message is unsecured. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third set of at least one record preceding the second place marker signature record from the first signature RTD preceding the second place marker signature record is unsecured. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising further defining the first place marker signature record by setting a URI_present field to ‘0’, and setting a signature_length field to ‘0’,
 wherein a combination of the URI_present field set to ‘0’ and the signature_length field set to ‘0’ indicates a signature RTD is a place marker signature record. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deleting of unsecured records in the NDEF message without changing the valid signature in the first signature RTD or the second signature RTD. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying unsecured records in the NDEF message without changing the valid signature in the first signature RTD or the second signature RTD. 
     
     
       7. The method of in  claim 1 , further comprising adding unsecured records in the NDEF message, without changing the valid signature in the first signature RTD or the second signature RTD. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first place marker signature record and the second place marker signature record are indicated by modifying at least one sub-field of a signature RTD in the NDEF message. 
     
     
       9. A Near Field Communication (NFC) device for selectively securing records in a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message, the NFC device comprising:
 an NFC message generating unit for placing a first place marker signature record as a signature Record Type Definition (RTD) in the NDEF message and placing a second place marker signature record in the NDEF message; and 
 a transmitter for transmitting the NDEF message, 
 wherein the first place marker signature record indicates a first set of at least one record preceding the first place marker signature record in the NDEF message as unsecured and a second set of at least one record following the first place marker signature record until a first signature RTD using a valid signature of the first signature RTD in the NDEF message as secured, 
 wherein the second place marker signature record indicates a third set of at least one record preceding the second place marker signature record from the first signature RTD in the NDEF message as unsecured and a fourth set of at least one record following the second place marker signature record until a second signature RTD using a valid signature of the second signature RTD in the NDEF message as secured, and 
 wherein each of the first place marker signature record and the second place marker signature record is defined by a combination of setting, within the place marker signature record, a URI_present field to ‘0’ and a signature_type field to ‘0’. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first place marker signature record and the second place marker signature record are indicated by modifying at least one sub-field of a signature RTD in the NDEF message. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of records preceding the first place marker signature record from a beginning of the NDEF message is unsecured. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the third set of records preceding the second place marker signature record from the first signature RTD preceding the second place marker signature record is unsecured.